Geeetech

Hi Everybody

I recently installed a Geeetech 3DTouch auto bed leveling sensor on my A30 (Thanks to a lot of links posted on this forum explaining how to do that).
Seems that the sensor is recognized by the printer and I can at least select the auto level function on the LCD. So far so good..

I then did the following:

1. A manual bed leveling just to ensure that nothing is too far off
2. Went into to Auto Level Menu on the LCD
3. Switched the Auto Level function on (top right corner on screen)
4. Ensured that 3D touch is selected at the bottom of the screen
5. Pushed "Nozzle"
6. Adjusted the Z Value by using a piece of paper
7. Pushed "OK" to confirm (screen says something like -3.2)
8. Printer beeps twice (assuming that's kind of a confirmation that the configuration was stored?)

I so far followed all the videos and tutorials I could find.
However, after auto leveling the nozzle is too far away from the bed. And yes, I ensured that there's always first G28 and then G29 in my printer setting. Also every time I recall the auto bed leveling the nozzle is again far away from the bed and I again need to set the Z-AXIS offset.

What am I doing wrong here?

Any similar experiences?

Thanks for letting me know!

Waiting for an answer to this one right now myself. Exact same problem I've been dealing with literally ALL DAY!

Finally found a solution. First of all this video helped me a lot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zTJFtwL4O0

There is a hint that you can "tune" the Sensor by using the screw on top of it. So what I did:

1. Manual Level (ensuring everything is "roughly" even)
2. Installed the sensor (but not fully tighten)
3. Activated "Auto Level" and pushed on the "Nozzle" button
4. Measured the distance between bed and the BL Touch Sensor (the sensor has to be in "up" position" -> can be set via screen). I then ensured to have distance between sensor and bed which is between 2-3 mm. Note: I adjusted the last few bits by adjusting the screw in the sensor (make sure that it doesn't blink which indicates an error.
5. Once I had everything tight I set the Z-Offset by using a piece of paper as shown in the video.
6. Ensure that your G-Code is sending G28 before G29... and that is it... The leveling seems to be fine now and I get nice first layers printed.

Last few print issues I could correct by adjusting the flow rate and the nozzle diameter. Now its working quite well.
Still some "ghosting" bit I might get rid of that as well

Gonna give this a try, but my setup might be a bit different, since I'm using an NPN sensor, not the bl touch. But it appears to work the same? As I was having the same issue you described.

I have a similar, but WEIRD issue. I just got my printer (with Auto Level included) in mid Feb 2019. I have overcome several issues with it out of the box, but one - Auto Level. I manually set the nozzle height using a piece of A4 paper. I check and set all 5 points, then save them with OK. After checking that the probe of the sensor is mounted EXACTLY 2mm from the bed when retracted, I enable Auto Level in the menu. Then I set the Z Axis offset in the menu at point 5, again, using a piece of A4 paper and save it with OK. I then set G28 and G29 in the starting G Code of my prints (Simplify 3D with A30 profile), then send the file to my Octoprint server (printer is down in my workshop, computer is up in my office so I use Octoprint). When I hit print, it does G28, and then when it executes G29 the Z Axis moves to point 5 on the bed then climbs to about 70mm off the bed platform with the probe constantly extending and retracting then stops. I am out of ideas. I have researched the heck out of setting up the Auto Level probe on the A30, watching several You Tube videos, and read threads in forums, one of which seems to have a very similar issue who discovered that the white wire and become disconnected from the board inside the sensor. I have not taken mine apart yet to investigate that.

Any ideas folks? I am already bald, so have no more hair to pull out trying to figure this out.

Thank you

blue.knight@comcast.net wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:48 pm

when it executes G29 the Z Axis moves to point 5 on the bed then climbs to about 70mm off the bed platform with the probe constantly extending and retracting then stops.

Blue Knight, I'm having exactly the same issue, but with the capacitive sensor instead of 3d touch. Using octoprint, you can view the terminal response as it is moving upwards. In my case, I just see a series of messages about z-axis endstop being triggered, moving up 10mm, endstop triggered again, move up, etc. It's as if whatever signal the bed level sensor is supposed to send is somehow locked permanently in the "triggered" state. Have tried multiple different firmwares and even bought a second sensor thinking maybe that was the issue, but no luck. So far, geeetech support has been unable to solve the problem for me either, so I'd be interested to hear if you make any progress with this.

I haven't been able to get in touch with Geeetech support AT ALL. I've sent three messages to them through their site, all unanswered, and tried calling them, all went unanswered as well. NOT impressed with their after sale support!

I never got a response via email to this issue either (although did get quick responses on a couple other questions about a month ago). I ended up posting in the Geeetech Facebook group and Emma Green (a geeetech-employed moderator I think?) connected me with one of their support techs, Mathew Stewart, who was finally able to determine, after a few days of back and forth Facebook chats, that one of the 4 resistors was bad on the extruder board (located next to the pins the sensor plugs into). Solution was to request the replacement part be sent out by the US dealer I purchased the printer from (or replace the resistors, but I don't keep tiny surface mount 10k-ohm resistors lying around, or magnifying glasses). I'm sending him the link to this thread btw. Hope you get this resolved soon too.

Ya, I don't have 10K SMD resistors either, and don't like messing with SMD. Please hook me up with him if you could please sir. The other issue I ran into and solved on my own is the way they had the Z Axis limit switch mounted was too high, and had no means to adjust it I couldn't get the nozzle close enough to the bed. So I found an adjustable Z Axis limit switch mount on Thingiverse, printed it on my other printer (FFCP thank God) and installed it. Thanks for your help!

Posted in the general Geetech Facebook page, and low and behold, I got a response from them! Hopefully, they reply quickly.